Massive e-MERLIN telescope array reveals first image

The University of Manchester has shown off
the first image to be produced by e-MERLIN, an array of radio
telescopes stationed across the UK that will give astronomers some
of the most detailed images of space yet.

The array holds seven telescopes, spread across Britain
almost 220 km apart. There's one as far north west as Pickmere, a
sleepy village in Cheshire East, and one as far south east as The
University of Cambridge. Together, the telescopes make a hugely
powerful "zoom lens", capable of studying the fine details
towards the very edge of the observable universe.

They're all linked up through an optical fibre network.
Combine that 217 km resolution with super fast data transfer, and
astronomers say they can collect more data in a single day than
what would have previously taken more than a year of observations.

To demonstrate the array's capabilities, the University
pointed the telescopes at an astronomical phenomenon called the "double quasar".
This nine billion year old jet of light is both bent -- showing off
the curvature of space -- and actually duplicated -- proving
Einstein's theory that a gravitional pull can lead to multiple
images of a single astronomical object. The effect is
known as a gravitational
lens.

It's not a new phenomenon, it's just the e-MERLIN operators
showing off the radio telescope's immense power. It's sort of like an
astronomer's equivalent of writing "Hello World" in a new
programming language.

Over 100 insitutes have lined up to use e-MERLIN, with plans
to look at star birth and death, black holes, galaxy evolution, pulsars, and young planets
forming around nearby stars.

"I am confident this impressive project will reap
significant scientific rewards," said Minister for science and
universities, David Willetts. "It demonstrates how effective
British universities are in this field."

Edited by Duncan Geere

Comments

"This nine billion year old jet of light is both bent -- showing off the curvature of space"Why would the curvature of space make it appear bent? Why would it appear to bend in one direction when space-time is uniform?

william garrett

Dec 10th 2010

"This nine billion year old jet of light is both bent -- showing off the curvature of space"Why would the curvature of space make it appear bent? Why would it appear to bend in one direction when space-time is uniform?